T-Mobile, With Shakira, Announces Free International Data, Texting

T-Mobile, With Shakira, Announces Free International Data, Texting

by Michelle Maisto

Making the World Your Network

"It doesn't have to be this way," T-Mobile CEO John Legere said of the fact that while mobile phones are designed to be used internationally, consumers pay "insanely inflated" fees when they do. Beginning Oct. 31, T-Mobile customers on Simple Choice plans can enjoy free texting and data use while roaming in 100-plus countries.

The Fine Print: Speed Passes

T-Mobile's top executives hosted a fireside chat of sorts Oct. 9, to share the news. CTO Neville Ray said that he turns off his teen's data plan before they leave the airport "and she doesn't talk to me for the first three days" of any vacation. That'll no longer be the case. A small-print detail is that the free data is at 2G and 3G speedsenough for Facebook, emailing and more. But for faster speeds, T-Mobile will offer three "Speed Pass" options for $15, $25 or $50.

Social Media, Cross-Cultural Marketing

The free international texting and data-use offer will be promoted with a marketing campaign featuring two friends, Jeremy and Miguel, traveling around the world while their wireless bills rack up and their parents beg them, via video calls, to "turn off an app, already." The bilingual campaign will have a major Twitter component, in which users can guess where the pair are, for a chance to win a grand prize of a trip around the world.

Worldwide Coverage, Nationwide LTE

In addition to making international communication more friendly, T-Mobile announced improvements at home. Its LTE network is now nationwide, in 233 markets, covering 200 million-plus people, and "smokin' fast," said Legere. "I can say we have the most reliable network."

International Appeal: Shakira

T-Mobile's other announcement of the night is that it has signed a deal with international singing sensation Shakira. Following its announcement, it hosted a Shakira concert in New York's Bryant Park.

Getting the Word Out

T-Mobile kicked off the Shakira concert with a commercial announcing the new offer. Another fine-print detail is that trips need to be six weeks or shorter. It's for travelers, not "people who are moving overseas," said Legere.

Shakira Is Back

In the commercial, Shakira said of her role, and T-Mobile's offer, "This is about bringing the world together, and about free and open communication that will definitely improve human understandingand I'm all for that."

Shakira Has 22 Million-Plus Twitter Followers

"Shakira appeals so widely across American and international audiences," said Chief Marketing Officer Mike Sievert. "You're going to see us amp up [this campaign] where people travel. Our job is to put this in front of people."

T-Mobile's Magenta

T-Mobile bathed Bryant Park in its trademark magenta.

The Barefoot Foundation

T-Mobile has said it's excited to help Shakira market and promote her upcoming single and album, as well as her primary charity, The Barefoot Foundation, which helps to build schools in Latin America.

T-Mobile CEO John Legere has called the wireless industry "stupid, broken and arrogant," and at an evening press event Oct. 9, he called it out for scamming consumers for exorbitant pricing for international roaming. "How have we allowed them to do this for so long?" Legere asked. "They're making margins between 90 and 100 percent." T-Mobile announced an end to that—an end to turning off mobile phones or data usage while traveling, or to returning to bill shock. "Tonight," said Legere, "we're going to make the world your network." Starting Oct. 31, T-Mobile's Simple Choice customers will be able to use data and send text messages in more than 100 countries at zero extra cost. Calls while roaming will be between $0.12 and $0.20 per minute. While traveling, calls to landlines in any "Simple Global" country are free and unlimited. Additionally, T-Mobile announced that its Long Term Evolution (LTE) network is now live nationwide and covers more than 200 million people, that it had signed Shakira as a spokesperson, and that from stateside customers will also be able to call any Simple Global country for $10 a month. "We're going to encourage you to travel around the world and meet a lot of people," said Legere, "and then we're going to let you call them."